Snow Blade Which is better ?

[Chilly807]

a plow works better it pushs the snow to the side. a bucket fulls up to x amount then pushs the snow all a round it so that you keep leaving rows of snow you have keep trying to remove

Pretty much the whole truth.. I have a front bucket with bottom mounted skids, you can tip the bucket ahead slightly to get better clearing, but full is still full. I usually punch a hole through on the first pass, then the rest are cleanup. The bigger the tractor the easier this is.

Small machines with limited traction mean you're forever filling and dumping the bucket.

I also have a rear blade with skids that I'm going to use this year to clean up the spilled snow behind the tractor. I think three passes should do it for a 10 foot driveway. The first with the bucket down to poke a hole, the next two with the blade angled and the bucket up to finish the edges.

Sean

 

[Baby Grand]

There is a frequently recurring motif in the saga of the snowstorm in these lands and it goes like this: The storm comes in raging at 33 degrees and dumps a heavy, wet blanket on the land. As it leaves, it leaves the door open and the cold wind rushes in behind it, freezing the heaping piles that the towns valiant drivers have offered up at the end of my driveway. An eye high, crusty behemoth; frozen granite-like hard and nigh impenetrable. All hail the FEL!

 

[Chilly807]

There is a frequently recurring motif in the saga of the snowstorm in these lands and it goes like this: The storm comes in raging at 33 degrees and dumps a heavy, wet blanket on the land. As it leaves, it leaves the door open and the cold wind rushes in behind it, freezing the heaping piles that the towns valiant drivers have offered up at the end of my driveway. An eye high, crusty behemoth; frozen granite-like hard and nigh impenetrable. All hail the FEL!

There's truth in them thar hills too.. the FEL IS a digging tool first, a frozen ridge of ice/snow can be a challenge to a smaller tractor with a plow attached. I remember the old walk-behind snowblower chewing away like an infuriated beaver at a waist-high plow ridge that had frozen onto a solid block after a day or two away. Lots of growling and chewing, not much effect.

Sean

 

[bill ns]

I guess those two old neighbours of mine will probley go on doing there snow plowing the same way .I think from all the sound advice i just got from this question i will be looking for a quick attach blade for my Koiti and then i will have the best of both worlds Thank you all for your advice

 

[jjmarotz]

Can't see how a bucket would ever wear out using it for snow removal cutting edge maybe, but not the bucket itself. Plow blades same thing... cutting edges wear too.

Think about it... how much more abrasion does a bucket see in the summer vs winter?? Snow adds a certain amount of "lubrication" and slick surface that normal dirt and rocks can't offer in summer months.

I do agree tho that a plow is a better tool than a bucket for moving snow, but for wear...... how long have most ag buckets, industrial buckets, etc been around even when used yr round

 

[LD1]

Can't see how a bucket would ever wear out using it for snow removal cutting edge maybe, but not the bucket itself. Plow blades same thing... cutting edges wear too.

Think about it... how much more abrasion does a bucket see in the summer vs winter?? Snow adds a certain amount of "lubrication" and slick surface that normal dirt and rocks can't offer in summer months.

I do agree tho that a plow is a better tool than a bucket for moving snow, but for wear...... how long have most ag buckets, industrial buckets, etc been around even when used yr round

I can see how.

If someone has a longer and paved driveway and they are wanting it scraped clean. Asphalt in VERY abrasive. But I agree, the cutting edge and NOT the bucket.

 

[Dead Horse]

I can see how.

If someone has a longer and paved driveway and they are wanting it scraped clean. Asphalt in VERY abrasive. But I agree, the cutting edge and NOT the bucket.

bingo.

The cutting edges on both of my tractors are measurably worn after 10 years of keeping 3/4 of a mile of pavement clean, and that is with only occasional use. I have plow blades for both tractors (now) and expect my buckets will now last the rest of my life.

Run your tractor down the paved road for a mile with the bucket down in float and tell me it does not wear off the edge of the bucket......... That is just silly.

 

[Ford850]

The real answer is... It depends.
It depends on the length of the drive, the contours and grade of the drive, the amount of snow, the type of snow (wet, powdery, drifted, etc), and most importanly the size of tractor.
I think for most the front blade is the best choice but there are some storms when I swap back to the bucket briefly.